November Loved Me and Has Now Left Me. Let's Hope December Can Pick Up the Pieces.

On the eve of December, I find myself choked on the fact that tomorrow, in fact, is December and 201o is within conceivable count-down range. I knew it would happen sometime, but I was convinced I could drag November out as long as possible. She's been a good month to me, too good even; and I'm dreading the scary reality of Christmas madness that starts at the ass-crack of dawn tomorrow (better dust off my ho-ho-ho's!).

I feel like the holidays are like an exam you know about all semester. You tell yourself you're going to get it together and study early. After succumbing to multiple internet distractions (Awkward Family Photos, anyone?), cleaning every inch of your apartment (that's where that dad-blasted Backstreet Boys CD went!), and telling yourself that's the last Thursday night you're going out (but $1 PBR's and karaoke... that's living the dream!) you decide to start studying.... and realize you need to cram an entire textbook's worth of information in over night. Time to steam up a pumpkin spiced latte, kiddo. It's go time.

And that's how I feel about the holidays. I know I need to prepare, and it's not even the shopping or the stressing over what delicious little number I'm going to wear for the family pictures (awkward ones, even!). It's the "spirit" I fear the most. I can never seem to get into it....

• I hate that people get so politically correct over what the heck to call this time of the year; as much as I believe "Christmas" should be wholly celebrated and is a special time in the church calendar, it's up to parents and the community in faith to teach children about the birth of Christ -- not corporate America.
• Speaking of which, those holiday commercials leave those stupid silver bells ringing in my ears, and I freak anytime I see a fat chump in a red suit and with what looks like a sickly Scottish Westie tied to his face (you call that a beard?!). I'm creeped out by carolers, too.
• Oh, and I can't think about hot chocolate without thinking about the taste buds that gave their lives so I could imbibe scorching cocoa powder and water (don't forget those tiny dehydrogentated marshmallows!). Everyone makes a stink out of nothing, the stores are crowded, and I'm ready to crack somebody's chestnuts over an open fire days before the official Christmas crescendo.
• And to top it off, after all the hub-bub and spending 24 days on the verge of a panic attack, December 25th comes and goes like a bat out of hell (wearing those goofy light-up antlers, no doubt). Then all you're left with is a gift basket from Bath & Body Works that reeks of empty sentiment and "I didn't know what else to get you," while your bank account coughs violently in exasperation. Day 26: Return that God-awful reindeer centerpiece that looks like it was molded by a 3 year old out of poop (also by the 3 year old) and spray-painted gold.

Bah-humbug?

But then again, as I've gotten older, the glitz and "magic" of Christmastime has slowly been replaced for a feeling of nostalgia and a chance to reconnect with friends and family. Maybe I've just learned the true value of those I care about (depsite all of ya's being crazy ass kids!); it's hard maintaining friendships and keeping up with loved ones on a day-to-day basis, but the holidays force us into recognizing that there's still something special. Not to mention, the less money I have (hello, AmeriCorps!), the less stress I find myself dealing with because I literally can't afford it (bah-doom-ching!). Lastly, time is moving so much faster than I remember it -- I still remember events in Jacksonville and over the summer that seem like they only happened a few weeks ago. I hate that I often take experiences for granted, so I'm finding it easier to slide into the holly-jollies of the up-coming month. I don't want to put off the feeling of Christmas like I normally do, because I'm afraid it's going to miss me completely.

So, as November was definitely my luckiest and most enjoyable month of the year, I feel like I can rest easy in the last few days of 2009. I'm secretly hoping the Christmas zaniness distracts me from the inevitable confrontation with life in 2010. For right now though, I really am happy with all that I have, the way things are going, and the people (new and old, weird and weirder) who've stuck with me for the ride. I hear those sleigh-bells ring-a-ling, even if it is 76 degrees outside.

Blogger's a Blunder. Blah!

Blogger wouldn't accept my post... Baaaah-humbug!
Here's a link to the Facebook "Notes" version.

I'ma Let You Finish, But C's Birthday Ain't Over Yet

Happy Reading!

I'm a November Glutton, and I'll Admit My Autumn Addiction when I'm Good and Ready (not yet!)

In an effort to detox from the last few weeks of post-Halloween and birthday binging, I've mapped out a meal plan for the upcoming week to bring back my sugar, alcohol, and sugar alcohol levels back to normal (omggg, carbssss!). But, of course, I still need my dessert fix; so I invested in those delicately portioned Weight Watchers ice cream cups. Worst well-intentioned idea EVER. They taste like someone stomped on a bag of Oreo's after stepping in dog shiz, threw them in some low-grade soy milk and Sweet-N-Low, and stuck it in the freezer. Now I remember why I don't diet (the first three letters spell 'DIE'!).

Screw this - I'm digging my leftover Halloween candy out of the trash STAT.

Still, the month of November has been my year's biggest all-you-can-eat buffet of life: a heaping helping of good times, topped with visits from dear friends and family, and a whopping side of happy, laughable moments (and as Paula Deen says, 'Butter makes everything better!'). Work continues to be on the up-and-up; and I'm generally overall happy with my situation, at least for the moment, here in the lowcountry. Better still, I've been blessed with a chance to celebrate my birthday twice this month (hey, I was jipped of a proper birthday recognition event in Jacksonville last year - so step off it, will ya?). The first was in Columbia with a faaabulous dinner catered by yours truly, and attended by some of the people who have ultimately shaped my worldview and provided me with many moments - big and small - that made me want to be a better, happier, sillier person. Oh, and we played a few serious (seriously hilarious!) rounds of Apples to Apples, which unfortunately for you all will never get old to me. :)

My birthday Round II came this past weekend as I trekked back to the Sunshine State with my Dad. As Disney was running its 2009 promo in which you could get into one of the parks free on your birthday, I joking told my Pops a few months ago that we should take advantage and get away for our birthday weekend (mine was Fri, Nov 13th, and his was Sat, Nov 14th). Too my surprise, he jumped at the idea and away we planned. Well. We mostly planned.

We drove down to Orlando all day Thursday, making a few leisurely stops as the weather was quite nasty; and one thing that makes it a true road trip for us is the snacky stuff we grab along the various pit-stops. That night, high on dinner from Perkin's and gas station double-mocha half-calf crazy cappuccinos, we planned out Friday's schedule. Being naive to the going "Disney rate" on the black hole that is Orlando, I looked up park tickets for entrance to the Disney... $86. For each park. Yes, in the off-season. LAME. I had my heart set on Animal Kingdom as it's the one park I hadn't been to yet. Dad, being the frugal old man that he is, decided he wasn't shelling out a considerable amount of money to see a 'Disney zoo' and would save his energies for Epcot the next day. Ugh. But, I still had a free ticket, so I wasn't letting it go to waste. So, I went on Friday morning to Animal Kingdom, taking my date, Nikon.

The bizarre experience was that it wasn't as terrifying or as awkward as I imagined. The first hour was probably the worst as I tried to map out the park and get the moves down necessary for dodging bright and tacky tourists. I couldn't help but think that people were staring at me as I wandered on my lonesome. I even hid my birthday button in my bag so as not to draw attention to myself. But then it hit me. I realized that Disney, though loud, crowded, and more bustling (bustlier?) than some of the bigger cities I've visited, it tends to trap you and your subsequent party in this tiny little bubble of shared experience. You're only aware of them and yourself, never really making connections with anyone else, albiet a few odd remarks while waiting in line for a ride. Still, it's not like a football game where you feel an instant 'bond' of sorts or a night out and about where everyone wants to meet new people. No, because you sell your first born for the magical embodiment of dreams coming true, you tend to only make sure you and your family have the best friggin' time ever. You're not there to make friends, 'k? So, I took advantage of the on-going social experiment that is my life, and had a pleasant birthday-day in Animal Kingdom. Alone. I even finally sported my birthday button, and quickly discovered that all the employees are mandated to wish you a Happy Birthday. Now that's a good idea!

And if you're wondering, I made Dad take me to an expensive seafood dinner that night at Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. :)

The following day, I showed Dad a pretty superb good time in Epcot. I made him wear his birthday button, and I wore mine again because I was living up my whole weekend while I still could (and being solo on your birthday so doesn't count). We enjoyed some of the classic rides and ate and drank our way through the countries. New favorite = Moosehead beer from Canada. Whew knew those Canadians would be good for something?! The day was long, but successful. Good to see the old lug could keep up.

And as my horrid Weight Watchers ice cream melts into a puddle of naaaasty (looking oddly like the possible vomit it'd turn into had I actually eaten the whole thing), I say it's time to catch a few ZZZ's before another long work day. I'm still blessedly intoxicated from the delicious fall weather and colors hanging around South Carolina, and I'm hoping it stays this way until my second favorite part of November: THANKSGIVING! I have a feeling this detox won't last for long.... :)

The Leaves Around Aren't the Only Things That Are Changing... But At Least They're Enjoying the View.

I've noticed a slight uppity-ness in the world lately; and, as today is November 1st (and the official kick off to my birthday month!), it dawned on me. This is the major swell before the holiday chaos breaks loose. The Christmas decorations have already silently crept into my favorite stores, and a part of me weeps every time I see a small child getting that glistening, dumb-founded face of wonderment as they wander through. If my little rugrats (God willing) get that same look, I'm smacking it off in front of all the Target employees and reminding them that Santa considers "the holidays" a sin pre-Thanksgiving.

And I'm done. For now.

However, I love the season of fall; and though it's a bit short lived here in the South, there's something about the changing colors and that hint of crisp, chilly air icing the thick layer of Carolina humidity that gets me excited about a fresh start (and that soon I won't have to shave as much! Praise jeebus for pants...). Things are going well at the Mayor's office, and I've sunk into that much desired comfortable feeling of knowing my surroundings. I never feel lonely, and I've got a packed calendar from now until 2010 (this is fact). I'm warning you now that this is the time of year where time gets the better of me, even more than usual, so pardon any unexplained absences in posting over the upcoming months.

I have a few post ideas in mind, but right now I'm suffering from a bizarre "loopy" state that can only be brought on by the new time change and a long Halloween weekend. My thoughts are scattered, as are my my clothes from a quick visit home to do laundry (the whole "college kid" mooching never gets old - especially when I'm poorer now than when I was in school). I'll do my best to appropriately reassemble my past events and recent opinions... And when I do, you'll be the first to know!

In the meantime, Happy All Saint's Day, Day Light Savings, etc etc and SO ON.